Process for treating cotton and other vegetable pulps or fibers of a porous absorbing nature



Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE summon w. ANDREWS, orBURLINGTON, Noa'rn sanctum vraocnsa ron rename 'oo'r'ron AND o'rrmiz.VEGETABLE runs on mamas or A roaous aasoanme NATURE R Drawing.

of a porous absorbing nature and is particularly adapted for treatingvegetable matter.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of treating vegetablematter so that when said matter is used as a filtering or absorbingmaterial it will remove tobacco oils from smoke passing therethrough.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a very simple process thatrequires the minimum of technical skill, that is very simple in itsoperationand comparatively inexpensive to carry out. With the foregoingand other objects in view, the invention consists of a novelarrangement, combination and sequence of operation as will bespecifically described and illustrated in the accompanyingspecification,

but it is to be understood that changes, va-

riations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the claims hereto appended.

In the application of the present invention, the process is explainedand described in connection with cotton inasmuch as cotton provides anideal filtering medium for insertionin cigar, cigarette holders, andpipes, but

it is within the contem lation of the present invention to treat anybers or pulp of vegetable matter in accordance with the presentinvention so as to increase the absorbing qualities for tobacco oils.

In carrying out the present invention, raw

cotton fiber issteamed in a large vat under approximately forty-two (42)pounds pressure. While the operation mentions steaming, it is tobeundelstood that the infiowing heat comes from a mixture of steam andhot air which has been found to give the best results.

After steaming the fibrous cotton, the mass is placed in a vat ofdesired dimensions in which a dilute solution of caustic soda of aboutthree and one-half percent strength is found. The cotton and dilutecaustic soda solution are boiled for a suitable time in order to removeaccumulated dirt. The caustic soda solution not only is a detergent, butit has been found that the oils in the cotton Application filed October5, 1929. Serial No. 887,756.

are removed b the boiling treatment with the weak caustic soda solution.

After a predetermined time, the caustic solution is drained out of thevat and the same is filled with clear water. The fiber and clear watermass are then boiled to remove the caustic soda, the oils in the cottonand other impurities. Thereafter, the cotton fiber is thoroughly driedand combed if necessary to produce a fluffy fibrous mass.

The dry fibrous cotton is then sprayed with a boric acid solution so asto thoroughly saturate the fiber. Then when the cotton has beenimpregnated with boric acid solution the mass is treated with milk ofmagnesia solution which is preferably sprayed-upon the fibrous mass ofthe cotton.

The fibrous cotton thereafter may be dried underforced draft or undernatural draft and is then ready to be .used as a filtering medium.

It is preferred to utilize the cotton treated in the above manner as afiltering medium either in cigar holders, cigarette holder, or in pipestems. In the conventional way, the

filtering medium is disposed across the path of the smoke as it is drawninto the mouth of the user, whereupon tobacco oils are absorbed by thecotton processed in accordance with the present invention. 7

Tobacco oils are of a complexorganic structure about which very littleis known from a medical standpoint, but it is a fact that the oilscollected in the filtering medium treated in accordance with the presentinvention would be taken into the human system through the lungs. It istherefore believed that any solid material that would lodge in thelungs, it entirely eliminated from the tobacco smoke would beadvantageous to the public health.

In some parts of the world, particularly in the Latin Americancountries, a sweet taste or flavor is desired in smoking tobacco. In thelatter event. the final step in processing the cotton would be to eitherspray 'or immerse the fibrous mass in a solution of sugar or thesynthetic material, saccharine. By treating the cotton withsugaror'saccharine,

the flavor of the smoke is considerablysweetened durlng its passagetherethrough.

It is to be understood that by describing in detail herein, anyparticular form, arrange-' ment or sequence of operation, it is not1ntended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims,or the requirements of i the prior art.

As an alternate or a collective treatment for producing a sweet taste orflavor, it has been found that if the fiber treated in accordance withthe above process, be sprayed, dipped or otherwise impregnated with avery dilute solution of ethyl alcohol, a very pleasant taste is impartedto the smoke passing through the filtering or absorbing material.

The treated cotton may be impregnated 5. A. method of treating vegetablematter to remove tobacco oils from smoke, compris- Q ing steaming thevegetable matter, subject ing the ve etable matter to immersion in hotcaustic so a solution and thereafter boiling the mass in water, thendrying the cotton and thereafter treating the vegetable matter successively with boric acid and milksif mag-v nesia, and treating theresulting product with sugar.

6. A method of treating vegetable matter to remove tobacco oils fromsmoke, comprising steamin the vegetable matter, subjecting the vegetable matter to immersion in hot caustic soda solution and thereafterboiling the massin water, thendrying the cotton and thereafter treatingthe vegetable matter sucwith the alcohol after impregnation withtheecessively with boric acid and milk of mag-' milk of magnesia andused as a filtering material. On the other hand, the saccharine or sugartreated cotton may be subjected to treatment with alcohol. In eitherevent, it has been found that the treatment with alcohol has negligibleeffect upon prior steps in the process.

Furthermore, the'cotton subjected to any of the above treatments, asidefrom adding a sweet flavor or taste, to tobacco smoke, will not alterthe tobacco taste.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A method of treating vegetable matter to remove tobacco oils fromsmoke, comprising steaming the vegetable matter, subjecting thevegetable matter to immersion in hot caustic soda solution andthereafter boiling the mass in water, then drying the cotton andthereafter treating the vegetable matter successively with boric acidand milk of magnesia.

2. A method of treating vegetable matter to remove tobacco oils fromsmoke, comprising treating vegetable matter with a hot solution ofcaustic soda, removing the caustic soda, and boiling the vegetablematter in water and thereafter treating the vegetable matter with boricacid and milk of magnesia in separate operations.

3. A method of treating vegetable matter to remove tobacco oils fromsmoke, comprising treating vegetable matter with a hot solution ofcaustic soda, removing the caustic soda, and boiling the vegetablematter in Water and thereafter treating the vegetable matter with boricacid and milk of magnesia in separate operations, and treating theresulting product with sugar.

4. A method of treating vegetable matter to remove tobacco oils fromsmoke, comprising treating vegetable matter with a hot solution ofcaustic soda, removing the caustic soda, and boiling the vegetablematter with boric acid and milk of magnesia in separate operations, andtreating the resulting product with saccharin.

nesia, and treating the resulting product with saccharin.

' 7. A method of treating cotton fiber to remove tobacco oils fromsmoke, comprising steaming the vegetable matter, subjecting the cottonfiber to immersion in hot caustic soda solution, removing the causticsoda and boiling the fiber in water, then drying the fiber and treatingthe product in successive operations with boric acid and milk ofmagnesia.

8. A method of treating cotton fiber to remove tobacco oils from smoke,comprising steaming the vegetable matter; subjecting the cotton fiber toimmersion in hot caustic soda solution, removing the caustic soda andboiling the fiber in water, then drying the fiber and treatin theproduct in successive operations with boric acid and milk of magnesia,said caustic soda solution of approximately three and one-half per centstrength.

9. A method-of treating cotton fiber to remove tobacco oils from smoke,comprising steaming the vegetable matter, subjectmg the cotton fiber toimmersion in hot caustic soda solution, removing the caustic soda andboiling the fiber in water, then drying the fiber and treating theproduct in successive operations with boric acid and milk of magnesia,and thereafter treating the resulting fiber with sugar.

10. A method of treating cotton fiber to remove tobacco oils from smoke,comprising steaming the vegetable matter, subjecting the cotton fiber toimmersion in hot caustic soda solution, removing the caustic soda. andboiling the fiber in water, then drying the fiber and treating theproduct in successive operations with boric acid. and milk of magnesia,and thereafter treating the resulting fiber with saccharin.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLARENCE W. ANDREWS.

